BGTC: Jeremy Metcalfe Donington test summary

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY FOR METCALFE WITH MAIDEN FERRARI RUN
Fleet's Jeremy Metcalfe made the most of an early Christmas present
at Donington Park National Circuit yesterday, Thursday, 13th December,
when he was given the opportunity to take his...

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY FOR METCALFE WITH MAIDEN FERRARI RUN

Fleet's Jeremy Metcalfe made the most of an early Christmas present
at Donington Park National Circuit yesterday, Thursday, 13th December,
when he was given the opportunity to take his maiden mileage in a
stunning Ferrari 430 British GT Championship car.

The 19-year-old BRDC Rising Star, who for the past three years has been
racing single-seaters in the Formula Renault UK Championship, is eyeing a
change of career path in 2008 and couldn't have hoped for a better
British GT test debut, Jeremy immediately on the pace inside just five
laps of the 1.95-mile Leicestershire track.

"Driving the Ferrari was an awesome experience", said the elated
racer, "I only did about five laps in total but I was on the pace
straight away and adapted to the car really well. It handles brilliantly
and the run has definitely whetted my appetite for more. Driving the
Ferrari in British GT next year would be fantastic, we're looking
very seriously at it."

The Ferrari which Jeremy piloted yesterday afternoon is one of the cars
which will be run by the newly announced CR Scuderia squad in the British
GT Championship next year. Headed by Chris Niarchos and Andrew Kirkaldy,
CR Scuderia will also field Ferrari 430s in the FIA GT Championship along
with a quartet of cars in Formula Renault UK.

With strong links to the team through its previous incarnation as AKA
Cobra, having raced for the outfit in Formula Renault UK for the past two
seasons, Jeremy has high hopes of continuing his relationship with the
squad into 2008 with a potential move into British GTs.

He added: "I'd like to thank Andrew (Kirkaldy) and the guys at CR
Scuderia for giving me the opportunity to have a run in the Ferrari, it
was fantastic. It only took me a lap to find my braking points and then I
was immediately on the pace of the other drivers who had at least double
the track time and, in some cases, three times as much running.

"We're working hard to secure the budget for 2008 and my favoured
option now is definitely a switch to GT racing. There are a lot of
benefits for sponsors, especially with a team as professional as CR
Scuderia. Obviously I know Andrew well from my time in Formula Renault UK
and it would be good to continue that relationship."